Policy Archive - Grading for Human Biology and Disease (HB&D) Legacy Curriculum

Grading Policy for Pre-Clerkship Years (HB&D – Legacy Curriculum)

Available Grades

Grading is Pass/Fail for all courses offered in the pre-clerkship years.

Policy on the Requirements to Pass Each Block 

In order to receive a Grade of Pass students must do the following: 

  • Attend and participate actively in all lab and small group sessions (Problem-Based Learning (PBL), Doctoring, Clinical Skills, and Labs).
  • Attend and actively participate in all scheduled Clinical Preceptor visits
  • Complete all weekly self-assessments within their specified time period.
  • Pass a comprehensive final exam integrating all aspects of the course. Note that all block content covered in lectures, required readings, PBL, Doctoring, Clinical Skills, and Labs may be tested. The Course Chairs establish the passing grade for each block. Please refer to the specific course syllabi for further information on evaluation criteria and what constitutes a pass or fail performance in a particular course.
  • Pass an Anatomy lab practical when applicable. Please refer to the specific course syllabi for further information on what constitutes a pass or fail performance for Anatomy.
  • Pass an Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE).  Note that this clinical skills assessment may include material from Doctoring and/or Clinical Skills. Criteria for acceptable OSCE performance increase over the first two years, and will be published in advance for each block.
  • Receive satisfactory evaluations on the basis of specific performance criteria in PBL, Doctoring, Clinical Skills, and Clinical Preceptorship.

Course Failure Policy

  • Fail 1 block in one academic year:
    • A grade of Fail in one course will result in the designation Experiencing Academic/Professional Difficulty.  The student must make-up the grade by passing the retest exam at the next designated retest date. 
  • Fail 1 retest exam:
    • The only acceptable grade for remediation of the comprehensive final exam is "Pass."  A grade of Fail upon remediation is not acceptable and results in the designation of Academic/Professional Probation, and the student is required to repeat the course.
    • If the student repeats the course and receives a Pass, the satisfactory re-evaluation will appear on the transcript with a designation that the course was repeated (P*).
  • Fail 2 blocks in one academic year:
    • A grade of Fail in two courses will result in the Experiencing Academic/Professional Difficulty designation.  The student must make-up both exams by passing the retest exams at the next designated exam dates. 
    • If a student does not pass the make-up exam(s), the student’s designation changes to Academic/Professional Probation, and the student must repeat the course(s) the following academic year.
    • A grade of fail in two make-up exams may result in a decision to repeat the entire academic year at the discretion of the identified APC.
    • If the student repeats the course(s) and receives a Pass in both courses, the satisfactory re-evaluation will appear on the transcript with a designation that the courses were repeated (P*).
  • Fail 3 blocks in one academic year:
    • A grade of Fail in three courses will result in the Academic/Professional Probation designation.
    • The student must repeat the academic year on Academic/Professional Probation, and may be subject to dismissal with any subsequent failures during the repeat year.
  • Fail 4 blocks in one academic year:
    • The student will be recommended for dismissal.
  • Fail Anatomy Practical or Clinical Skills retest exam:
    • At the discretion of the Thread Chair, any student who solely fails an Anatomy Practical or Clinical Skills retest exam may have the opportunity to remediate their performance with a faculty member in lieu of repeating the entire course.
    • If given the above option, the student must remediate their performance with a faculty member, as designated by the Thread Chair, prior to the beginning of the next academic year.
  • At the discretion of the Course Chair, any student who solely fails Problem Based Learning (PBL), Preceptorship, or Doctoring may have the opportunity to remediate their performance with a faculty member in lieu of repeating the entire course.  If given the above option, the student must remediate their performance with a faculty member, as designated by the Course Chair, during the following summer.

Marginal Performance Policy

  • Students may receive a Marginal Performance for coursework in the pre-clerkship years, which is recorded on the transcript as a Pass for the course.
  • Grades of Marginal Performance are for internal purposes only and are not reflected on the transcript.
  • The Assistant and Associate Deans for Student Affairs are notified if a student’s performance is judged to be marginal.
  • Students issued a grade of Marginal Performance in a block are encouraged to meet with the respective Block Co-Chairs and one of the Deans for Student Affairs to discuss strategies for improvement and available resources for support.
  • Marginal Performance in 2 or more courses in one academic year (with no Fails) will result in the Experiencing Academic/Professional Difficulty designation.

Incomplete Grade Policy 

  • The Course Chair may assign the Incomplete grade when work is of passing quality but the student has not completed all required coursework by the end of the Block. Once an Incomplete grade is assigned, it remains on the transcript until resolved.
  • To resolve a grade of an Incomplete to a Pass (P), students must satisfactorily complete the coursework as specified by the Course Chair within a specified time period. If the coursework is satisfactorily completed within a specified time period, the Incomplete will be changed to a Pass. If the coursework is not completed within a specified timed period or is not satisfactory, the Incomplete converts to and remains a Fail.
  • The Academic Performance Committee is responsible for specifying the length of time afforded to students to complete the coursework on a case-by-case basis, during which time the Incomplete will remain on the transcript.

Requests For Evaluation Modifications/Grade Changes

  • Students are alerted by email when a grade has been finalized. Students who feel there is an error in their grade may request a review of the grade assigned in writing to the Course Chair within 14 days of grade submission.
  • Per UCLA Academic Senate regulations, only the course instructor of record has the responsibility and right to determine and assign a final grade. A student who decides to file a grading complaint should provide written documentation to support their claim that a grade was assigned for other than academic reasons.